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1 Ingredient, 4 Ways

Articles on how to make one ingredient versatile with four different dishes from independent restaurants across the country

4 ways chefs are using meatless “meat” in classic dishes, from kosher cheeseburgers and Indian street food, to Chicago deep-dish “sausage” and Cuban tacos

Plant-based proteins as burgers and so much more

Tara Fitzpatrick, Senior Editor

March 13, 2020

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Last year, plant-based meat substitutes soared 87% in sales at restaurants, according to data from Buyers Edge Platform, a restaurant supply chain company that relies on technology to help restaurants drive sales. Buyers Edge supplies more than 20,000 restaurant customers with ingredients, and looking at 2018 to 2019, the jump in cases of meat substitutes has been remarkable.

“2019 really was the year when meat substitutes went from items that were placed on a menu to satisfy a certain constituency to something restaurants can use to drive traffic and sales,” said Buyers Edge Platform President Christina Donahue. “Operators found that demand went far beyond just the hard-core vegetarians and vegans to people who wanted to try something unique and different … and delicious.”

Quality meat alternatives paired with the deft touch of a creative chef lead to the sweet spot. Or should we say the savory spot.

Check out these four meatless menu items.

Contact Tara at [email protected].

Follow her on Twitter @Tara_Fitzie.

About the Author

Tara Fitzpatrick

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group

Tara Fitzpatrick is Food Management’s senior editor and a contributor to Restaurant Hospitality and Nation’s Restaurant News, creating editorial content for digital, print and events. Tara holds a bachelor of science degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kent State University. Before joining Food Management in 2008, Tara was associate editor at National Association of College Stores in Oberlin, Ohio. Prior to that, Tara worked as a newspaper reporter in her hometown of Lorain, Ohio, where she lives now. Tara is a fan of food history, legends, lore, ghost stories, urban farming and old cookbooks. 

Tara Fitzpatrick’s areas of expertise include the onsite foodservice industry (K-12 schools, colleges and universities, healthcare and B&I), menu trends, sustainability in foodservice, senior dining, farm-to-table and innovation.

Tara Fitzpatrick is a frequent webinar and podcast host and has served on the board of directors for IFEC (International Food Editors Consortium).

Tara Fitzpatrick’s experience:

Senior Editor, Food Management (Feb 2008-present)

Associate Editor, National Association of College Stores (2005-2008)

Reporter, The Morning Journal (2002-2005)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-fitzpatrick-4a08451/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tara_Fitzie

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/tarafitzie/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tara.y.fitzpatrick

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